Above, one of the very few media outlets reporting the no media access for the new PM yesterday and below one of the many reporting the moderated access for the FM, on 29 January 2026:

By Liz S

Talking of Anas and his U turns, as in his seemingly conflicting opinions , opinions that are dependent on who they can most damage and who they can most protect.

In June of this year the BBC reported this on their website:

“Holyrood restricts media access to politicians after FMQs”

“A row has broken out at Holyrood after it was announced journalists will have restricted access to politicians after First Minister’s Questions“.

“Scottish parliament officials set out a designated area for journalists on Thursday ahead of the opposition party leaders’ questions to John Swinney”.

This BBC article also had a quote from Anas Sarwar that stated this:

“Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “The freedom of the press, for you guys to come and ask us difficult questions, it makes it uncomfortable for us sometimes, but that is a fundamental part of our democracy.”

Really ?

So why then when Andy Burnham was in Scotland yesterday was this reported by the Editor of The National newspaper:

“Andy Burnham is in Scotland today for the first time since becoming PM . Just like we have seen with the UK Gov time and time again, Scottish media has been blocked from access. No change there”

“He’s refusing to speak to speak to any Scottish print media claiming to be too short on time “.

“Meanwhile the new Energy Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, is also in Scotland. Also refusing to speak to the media about Scottish priorities.”

Today neither the BBC website nor yesterday’s snubbed (so called) ‘Scottish’ print media (other than The National) have chosen to headline on their front pages that both the new PM and also his new Energy Secretary, Miatta Fanhnbulleh, had both refused to speak to the (so called) ‘Scottish’ media while in Scotland.

The media, including the BBC were instead more focused on communicating that Swinney was ‘telt’ there was to be no second Referendum by Burnham, or as The (so called) ‘Scottish’ Daily Express wrote on their front page:

“Swinney’s gloom deepens as PM calls the shots”. (in respect to a second independence referendum being “Off limits”).

Then also on the front page of The P & J was this headline:

“Fahnbulleh trip to city lifts hopes of positive talks” (just not “talks” with The P & J nor with any other media within Scotland it seems, that is while on her first visit to Scotland in her new job as the Energy secretary).

No doubt Anas Sarwar will choose not to repeat what he said before in June of this year , in relation to the story on ” Holyrood restricts media access to politicians after FMQs”.

As if Sarwar was now asked his opinion on Burnham and Fahnbulleh “blocking access to the media in Scotland” on their first visit here since becoming PM and Energy Secretary , Sarwar would , I am sure, now offer (yet another) conflicting opinion.

That is he would not seem so (supposedly) willing to reiterate that in his (supposed former) opinion , being “asked difficult Q’s” by the “press” was “a fundamental part of our democracy.”.

However it seems to be that in Sarwar’s UK it is only (pro) UK politicians, including UK PM’s and UK government Ministers, who were those who were to be seemingly exempt from having to experience “difficult Q’s” by the “press” while in Scotland.

Different rules for Labour (and other pro UK parties) compared to what the SNP are expected to tolerate and endure from all media in the UK State.

Liz S